Kilkenny Minor Hurlers are just one step away from Croke Park.
Pat O’Grady’s charges face Laois in the Leinster Semi Final this Saturday at 3pm in O’Moore Park Portlaoise.
Kilkenny have been impressive so far this season and got off to a flying start with a facile 3-22 to 0-4 victory over Westmeath in Mullingar.
They then followed it up with a fine win over Wexford at Nowlan Park with the score finishing 1-20 to 0-11 in their favour.
Laois for their part recorded a 2-22 to 0-14 win over Offaly, they then lost to Dublin by 1-11 to 1-8 and last time out they beat a fancied Meath side by 1-19 to 1-14.
The O’Moore men are definitely in the semi final on merit and in Christy Walsh they have a manager who knows Kilkenny GAA inside out with his involvement with Bennettsbridge.
This Kilkenny team is a classy outfit this year however and we all know that Captain Adrian Mullen is a big talent which he showcased again the last day by scoring 1-9.
Niall Brassil is lively out around the middle third, Conor Flynn has improved immensely in the last 12 months and Mikey Carey is very solid at full back. Jordan Molloy also impressed the last day against Wexford while Barrow Rangers man Jack Kelly is also a major scoring threat.
Laois have a top performer in Ciaran Comerford who hit 1-7 against Meath, Padraig Delaney is the glue that holds their defence together and James Keyes is also a very capable hurler.
It’s likely that Laois will make a game of this for long periods but I expect Kilkenny to find that little bit of class to make them prevail in the end.
Verdict: Kilkenny
We have full live Commentary of the game this Saturday on air and on KCLRFANZONE.COM from 3pm.